general manager of the team personally. They want me. Players get traded all the time, Lainey—people come and go. A lot of contracts are up in the next year or so. If you say yes to this, my agent is ready to make a call. He’s already been in talks with the owner in Seattle. They want to sign me for five years, and they’re offering an extra million a year as incentive—but money aside, it would be a good move for us as a family.”
“How long have you been thinking about this?”
I part her legs and step between them so I can get a little closer. “A while.”
“It’s a big change, RJ.” She links her hands behind my neck, fingers sliding into the hair at my nape.
“Only for one of us. You’re the one who’s had to deal with the most change between us. Look, Lainey, those six weeks we had in Alaska were the best I’d had in my entire life, and the year that followed was dark without you. Having you back, falling in love with you all over again, and Kody for the first time, it’s made me a better man.” I clasp my hands behind her back so I can feel anchored.
“I want us to do this together. Make decisions together, figure out life and how to parent and how to get our kid to eat green things. I want to love you. I want to get razzed by your brothers at Christmas dinners. We’ll be closer to both of our families, since mine is on the West Coast too. It makes the most sense, doesn’t it? If you want to stay here, then the no-trade clause stays in effect—but if you want Seattle, then I lift the clause and we go.”
“You’re sure?” She bites her lip.
“Positive. Whadya say?”
“I say . . . let’s go to Seattle and start a new team.”
Lainey pulls me in for a kiss that lasts until Kody comes up behind me and hugs my leg, reminding me that we have a few hours before we can celebrate this decision privately.
I pick him up. “We’re going on a new adventure, little man.”
He pats both of my cheeks and grins, as if he understands. Lainey gets him a piece of frozen fruit stuffed inside a little mesh bag to chew on while I help get his dinner ready.
After we eat, I decide if we’re celebrating one thing, we might as well celebrate two. Lainey’s agreed to move to Seattle, so I’m pretty confident that means we’re in it for the long haul.
“I’ll take Kody up and get him ready for bed.” I kiss the top of her head.
She drops a tea bag in her mug and looks up at me. “I can do that.”
“I’ve got it. You enjoy your tea—we’ll be down in a few to say good night.”
She smiles up at me. “Thanks.”
I take him upstairs, change him into his jammies, and make a stop in our bedroom. “I need your help tonight, little man, okay?”
“Da!” He shoves his fingers in his mouth.
I slip my hand under a pair of socks and find the box. Closing the drawer with my hip, I take a deep breath. I’ve practiced this a million times over the past couple of months, what I’m going to say, how I’m going to do this. But my family is right—I don’t need a grand gesture, because that’s not what Lainey likes.
She likes simple and thoughtful.
I flip the box over between my fingers and take Kody back downstairs. Lainey’s tucked into the corner of the couch, reading a magazine.
I set Kody on the floor and hold up the small box, tied with a white ribbon. “Can you give this to Mommy?”
I pass it to him, not sure if handing something like this over to an eleven-month-old is actually a good idea or not. The first thing he tries to do is shove it in his mouth.
I pull it away from his mouth. “Take it to Mommy.”
I point at Lainey, and he bumbles his way over to her, holding the box in one fist. “Ma!” I follow behind him and make sure he doesn’t try to eat it again.
She sets the magazine on the table and uncrosses her legs. Sitting forward, she holds out her arms, ready to catch him if he falls. “Hi, baby, you look like you’re ready for bed. Do you want Mommy to come up and tuck you in?”
He waves the box around in her